Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday urged Tamil CM MK Stalin to direct concerned authorities to draw maximum quantity of water from Mullaperiyar dam through the tunnel to Vaigai Dam. He further requested Stalin to direct officials to gradually release the water downstream and intimate the Kerala government about opening the shutters 24 hours in advance. This would help the state to take precautionary measures to safeguard the people living downstream, the Kerala CM elaborated.
After days of heavy rains in the state, the reservoir level is threatening to touch 142ft, necessitating the gradual release of water from Mullaperiyar to the neighbouring state. During the heavy rainfall on October 18, the water level had touched 133.45 ft. Both the Kerala Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources, had written to their counterparts on the issue.
On October 20, the current inflow to Mullaperiyar Dam was 2,109 cusecs/second and discharge level 1,750 cusecs/second, and a net inflow of around 2,109 cusecs was accumulating in the reservoir even after diversion from the Tamil Nadu side.
Kerala Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine has also requested Tamil Nadu to draw more water to the state. He added that the Union Jal Shakti Ministry's intervention has also been sought.